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Laura Stricker photo.
In this file photo, Jean Hanson, a member of the Canadian Mental Health Association board, speaks at an open house held at the CMHA's new supportive residence on Moonlight Avenue in June 2013. Hanson passed away in February after fighting cancer for the second time.

When people with mental health issues are discharged from the hospital, they often struggle to find a safe place to get back on their feet.

Opened this week, a home in Sudbury will provide that safe place for eight people.

"When we are here, life is better," Christine Racette, one of two people currently living in the Moonlight Avenue home said at an open house Friday.

"We have a lot of the support in the community and in the house, and it is appreciated. I know (my mental illness) won't go away even if I stay here, but I have a safety net. I'm well taken care of."

The home, the first of its kind in Sudbury, was funded by the North East Local Health Integration Network Ministry of Health and the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

It is run by the health centre, Northern Initiative for Social Action and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

" The North Bay Regional Health Centre has responsibility for tertiary mental health throughout the whole northeast region," Paul Heinrich, president and CEO of the hospital, explained.

"(This is) a great opportunity to partner, and the best part of it is that we're moving care into the community. Those of us who work in hospitals ... a lot of our energy is devoted to trying to get people out of hospital, living independently, with the right supports to live a full life."

Marion Quigley, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association -- Sudbury/Manitoulin, said peer support workers -- those who have struggled with mental health issues them-selves -- are in the home eight to 12 hours a day, "teaching life skills, helping them secure employment or volunteer opportunities in our community, building social supports, reconnecting with their family and friends."

Residents in the house, who receive ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) cheques, pay rent to live there. The priority is those who are just getting out of the hospital, either the one in North Bay or Health Sciences North.

"People have difficulty when they transition from hospital into the community, and so when you have a mental illness and you're into recovery, it's very difficult to build back and get integrated into the community," Quigley said.

The stigmatization around those with mental health issues has been a barrier to establishing support services, Heinrich said.

"Society has tended to stigmatize people with mental illness, and it's prevented a lot of people from even talking about it. In fact, it's prevented the right kind of investments happening to support people, because it's so untreated and there's (such a) lack of awareness and a bias against people living with mental illness.

"This is a very exciting day for all of us, and it's a perfect example of tremendous partnership across multiple health agencies to do the right thing for patient care."